Hi-Chew – Crispy Watermelon

I think it’s safe to say that I’m now at a point where I am grasping at straws as far as trying new Hi-Chew flavours is. Apart from really gimmicky and seasonal flavours, there’s not much more to try. Even as far as seasonal flavours go, I’m seeing a lot of re-issues and rehashes of prior years offerings. Some might say I have a problem. Other might chalk it up to diligent and committed research. Whatever your opinion, it’s clear we are trying them out faster then Hi-Chew can release them.

I’m not really sure what this flavour is called, other than that it is watermelon, and they added some crispy candy bits into the center. Truthfully it seems not all that different from the Umai-Chew line, but I’m sure there’s a reason why they didn’t brand it as such.

Texture is really the only departure from the original watermelon flavour I tried all those years ago. While it still has that distinct chewy, taffy, bouncy castle texture to it, they added little candy crystal bits in to the center. As you bite into it, it reminds me of biting into a hard candy once it was small and fragile enough to bite into, turning it into little candy shards of sugar and sweetness. Similar experience here but you don’t have to wait for your saliva to break down the candies defenses. Well, that and it’s surrounded by very chewy candy. The overall experience is similar to other Umai-Chew flavours, and I do appreciate the novelty of it. Ultimately though, I still prefer the OG where it’s just the chewy candy on it’s own.

The flavour is really not all that different from the original watermelon flavour I tried. It starts off somewhat mild and tame, and sort of reminds me of that space between the watermelon rind and the juicy red fruit. As I bite further in, the flavour gets more substantial and you start to taste the watermelon flavour with it’s melony goodness. The crystals on the inside also have some flavour to it, so that enhances it a little bit. I find watermelon a tough flavour to emulate, because so much of it relies on the juice, or water content. Watermelons are very refreshing, and while this isn’t exactly refreshing, it also isn’t super artificial so I do appreciate that.

I have a hard time saying no to Hi-Chew flavours, and this one is no different. I generally prefer the classic variety without the added sugar crystals, and that holds true in this case. Otherwise, an overall enjoyable experience as usual.